Obsessed (1992 film)

Obsessed
Directed by	Jonathan Sanger
Written by	David Peckinpah
Produced by	S. Bryan Hickox
Starring	Shannen Doherty
Distributed by	ABC
Release date	September 27, 1992
Running time	88 min.
Language	English

Obsessed is a 1992 television film directed by Jonathan Sanger. Remake of the 1975 TV movie.

Plot

Lorie Brindel is a young marine surveyor who feels that she was ignored by her father when she was a child. Lorie is therefore attracted to older men, including one of her clients, Ed, a much older and twice-divorced man. She confirms his flirting during her assessment of his yacht, and starts seeing him, much to the concern of his daughter Andie, who herself is even older than Lorie. Now, even though she didn't ask, Lorie moves in while Ed is on a business trip. He comes back to see her clothes and personal items taking up space in his closets and shelves. At first he isn't very happy, but Lorie has a hissy fit and he relents, not having any clue yet of her true nature. Ed's friends humour his relationship with Lorie but soon it becomes apparent how jealous she is of his time and attention. After a while, Lorie completely unravels as her already-shaky sense of security is further aggravated by Ed's lack of commitment, and she freaks out when he chooses a golf tournament over her elaborate plans for a romantic weekend at a bed and breakfast in the mountains. Ed, is never sure about their relationship due to his past divorces decides he's had enough and orders Lorie to move out that day.

Lorie cannot accept it's over, and tells herself (and her over-tolerant, enabling roommate Tina) it's just a lovers' spat that will ultimately result in marriage, believing Ed will miss her and eventually call to reconcile. Tina just sadly shrugs, knowing it's pointless to argue with a wall. When a rose bouquet arrives, Lorie automatically assumes Ed has sent them so she tips the delivery man. Tina, excited for Lorie, urges her to open the card but... it's not for Lorie, it's for Tina ~ from 'Robert', whom she met at a museum. Devastated and sullen, Lorie tries to kid Tina about owing back the tip, but it isn't convincing, and Lorie stares into space, unable to focus on work. On the yacht, Ed and Andie talk about how Ed never planned on anything serious with Lorie, and Andie assures him that he dodged a bullet. That night, a very late call comes to Ed's and he drowsily answers, hearing a pathetic Lorie begging for another chance. She tells him to meet her at 'their' cafe table, but Ed refuses, saying it's over. Lorie says she'll wait all day and all night. Ed hangs up, his sleep ruined, and sighs loudly in perturbed fatigue. At the country club, Ed's best friend Jerry warns Ed not to meet Lorie because it will all just start up again. Ed denies intending any such thing, but we then see him punch out a jock who was hitting on an exasperated Lorie, because he is concerned about Lorie and decided to show up to check if she is all right.

They walk hand-in-hand along the pier as she blathers on about how he missed her. Ed feels utterly trapped by his sense of sympathy for her pain, and his annoyance about the situation he can't seem to exit. She points out the original date location and they end up in bed .. again. Ed is enraged with himself for being so weak and he resolves to end it for good. Lorie, on the other hand, feels triumphant about her success in getting Ed back in the sack, thinking that means he's still in love with her. What she never knew was that Ed enjoyed the sex with a hot young cutie, but never had any notions of marrying her. Lorie brags to Tina, then accuses Tina of envy when the glee isn't reflected in her realistic roommate. Lorie calls Ed again to gush about the thrill, but he's hating himself for it, and ignores all her calls, which continue repeatedly through the night and into the next morning. Lorie called everybody when Ed didn't respond, and a groggy Andie implores her Dad to please deal with this. They have heated words about how Ed is leading Lorie on with mixed messages. Ed doesn't want to be mean, but Andie says he has to be or Lorie will not stop her pursuit. Ed finds flowers and presents in his boat, and calls Lorie to demand she cut it out or he'll change his number. She screams that he used her, and he hangs up when she tries to take it back and begs to see him again.

Next day Ed's out with his friends .. AND a lovely lady named Louise. Lorie shows up as if to await a tennis match, then proceeds to totally embarrass Ed in front of everyone. He follows her out and confronts her, saying "I DO NOT LOVE YOU", but Lorie just chases him to his jeep and says "I'm sorry" .. he physically shoves her away, saying "Get away from me!" Then he drives off, staring at her with a look of disgusted pity. Tina reams Lorie out for neglecting her job, predicting Lorie will be fired if she doesn't get it together, citing moody distraction and rudeness to clients. Lorie snaps that she already got that lecture. Then she apologizes and laments her helpless failure to detach from Ed. Tina leaves for her date with Robert after Lorie shoos her out, saying she'll be fine .. yeah. She gets hammered and shows up at Ed's door, for his birthday! .. all wasted and giddy with alcoholic courage, but Andie is there and Lorie, suddenly quite sober, runs away in mortified horror. The phone wakes Ed up again and Tina sobs that Lorie tried to commit suicide. Ed comes to the hospital and Tina tries to persuade him that it's not his fault, but he feels sick at heart and leaves once he knows Lorie will be okay. Tina tells Lorie he was there, which seems to comfort Lorie for a short time, but at the psych's office, she smokily describes what should have been the perfect romance with Ed. The shrink asks if Lorie tried to punish or pull Ed, but she says she just couldn't take it any more.

On the beach with Tina, Lorie gets weird by 'joking' she would destroy Ed's possessions. Then Ed, talking to Louise, notices stalker Lorie's car across the street before she speeds off. At the marina, a black-clad Lorie sneaks into the yacht, drenches it with gas, lights a match, then runs away in time to see the boat explode. Pieces of wood, cups, leather-covered seats and wet books are poked around in the water, and a cop remarks that Ed would have no trouble framing Lorie for it in order to collect money. Ed rants that she's making his life a living hell and the cop asks why he hasn't reported anything before; Ed didn't want to get Lorie in trouble. The cop says he really can't do anything, and it's just a good thing Ed wasn't on the boat, and he'd best change his locks.

At the office, Lorie gets fired as was expected .. blames Ed for everything she herself caused, and drives to Ed's house. She opens his bed table drawer to retrieve a handgun she saw when she first moved in. Andie, having received a call from Ed (probably about changing the locks), sees Lorie in Ed's room and, after being told Lorie just wanted some of her things, is shocked to see the gun aimed at her. Ed arrives and Andie shouts that Lorie has the gun. Ed tells Lorie to let Andie go, but Lorie is crazy and tries to kill Andie, who ducks just in time. Ed's fury erupts and he lunges at Lorie and begins to throttle her, but he's also driven to madness and almost chokes her to death until Andie pulls him off. In another psych's office, a hostile and violently angry Lorie refuses to cooperate in the session, and is led by a guard by the arm.. that she viciously jolts away.

On another yacht, Ed sees a gorgeous Louise as the best thing that ever happened to him, and she smiles and offers lunch. He gazes at the scenery, which includes a hot young cutie on another yacht, flirting with the owner, and she is none other than Lorie who stares him in the eyes.

Cast

• Shannen Doherty - Lorie Brindel
• William Devane - Ed Landers
• Clare Carey - Andie Landers
• James Handy - Jerry
• Lois Chiles - Louise

External links

• Obsessed at IMDb